Red Bull F1 boss Christian Horner has turned up the heat on Sergio Perez, demanding the Mexican driver close the gap to teammate Max Verstappen in the remaining races of the 2024 season.
Red Bull’s championship aspirations are fading fast. With just six races left, they trail McLaren by a daunting 41 points in the constructors’ standings.
While a turnaround seems unlikely, Horner identifies Perez’s underperformance as a key factor in their struggles.
This comes as Red Bull braces for a fierce battle in 2025. Ferrari’s lineup of Charles Leclerc and a returning Lewis Hamilton is a formidable force. McLaren, with Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, also poses a significant threat.
Despite having a contract for next season, Perez’s future at Red Bull is far from guaranteed.
Red Bull is reportedly evaluating Liam Lawson in the remaining races to assess his potential as a replacement for 2025. This aligns with Helmut Marko’s preference for a junior driver alongside Verstappen.
Horner, speaking to Motorsport.com, emphasized the urgency of finding a strong teammate for Verstappen.
“We desperately need answers… We need to make sure that with both of our drivers, that there’s not a big gap between them because you can’t afford to have that,” he said.
Perez’s future was already shaky before the summer break, with Red Bull contemplating Daniel Ricciardo as a replacement.
However, they ultimately decided to stick with Perez, feeling they hadn’t adequately supported him previously.
Now, with the title slipping away and a potential “super-team” looming at Ferrari, Red Bull is seemingly ready to re-evaluate their driver options. Perez’s next six races will be crucial in determining his fate at the team.
